5 prayers before japa

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Sri Nama-mala-grahana-mantra (upon taking one's beads):

 

tribhanga-bhangima-rupam

venu-randhra-karancitam

gopi-mandala-madhya-stham

sobhitam nanda-nandanam

 

"His form bent in three places, His hands bent over the holes

of His flute, the son of Nanda Maharaja stands resplendent amidst a circle

of gopis."

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-grahana-mantra (on taking the beads for the purpose of japa

[japarthe]):

 

avighnam kuru male tvam

harinama-japesu ca

sri radha-krsnayor dasyam

dehi male tu prarthaye

 

"O Mala, please destroy inauspiciousness in my chanting of the

holy name of Lord Hari and grant me the position of service to Radha and

Krsna. This is all I pray, O Mala."

 

 

nama cintamani-rupam

namaiva parama gatih

namnah parataram nasti

tasman nama upasmahe

 

"The Holy Name is a beautiful transcendental touchstone--it is the

supreme goal. There is nothing higher than the Holy Name. I therefore

worship

the Holy Name."

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-samarpana-mantra (consecrating the mala); traditionally,

Vaishnavas first offer Krsna everything they use, including their neck

beads,

japa beads, etc. I don't know that this is intended here though.

 

nama-yajno mahayajnah

kalau kalmasa-nasanam

krsna-caitanya-prityarthe

nama-yajna-samarpanam

 

"The sacrifice of the name is the highest yajna, which destroys

the contamination of Kali-yuga. In order to please Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, I offer this sacrifice of the holy name."

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-sthapana-mantra (establishing the beads):

 

patita-pavana nama

nistaraya naradhamam

radha-krsna-svarupaya

caitanyaya namo namah

 

"The holy name is the saviour of the fallen. Oh, please deliver

this lowest of men. Obeisances again and again unto Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, unto Sri Sri Radha-Krsna."

 

tvam male sarva-devanam

sarva-siddhi-prada mata

tena satyena me siddhim

dehi matar namo 'stu te

 

"O Mala, among all of the gods, you are considered the bestower of

all perfection. By dint of this fact, O Mother, please grant me perfection.

Obeisances unto you!"

 

TridaNDi BhikSu, Bhakti Visrambha MAdhava